Resolution Adopted by the CCAR

An Intensified Response to Those Seeking to Amend the Law of Return

Adopted by the CCAR at the 96th Annual Convention of
the Central Conference of American Rabbis
1985

Since 1970, Israel's Orthodox parties have been seeking to amend the Law of Return
so as to exclude Reform, Reconstructionist, and Conservative converts from its provisions.
There is clear and abiding evidence that Lubavitch Chasidim, among others, are campaigning strenuously on behalf of the amendment so as to curtail, further, religious
pluralism in Israel.

We thereforecommend the action of ARZA in establishing in Israel a "Law of Return Action Center"
under the direction of Uri Regev. The Action Center will create and coordinate vitally
necessary programs of information in Israel, seeking to demonstrate the dangers to
the unity of the Jewish people inherent in amending the Law.

We joinwith ARZA in its feeling of outrage and frustration toward those seeking to delegitimize
non-Orthodox Jewish religious movements in Israel. We must be unrelenting in our
efforts to educate the Israeli public and to mobilize support in all quarters of
Israeli society, as well as within the leadership ranks of those international Jewish
organization that wield great influence in Israel.

We must not allow such challenges to our authenticity to go unanswered.